Shut-off valve for oil burners



June 5, 1928.

R. D. MclNTosH SHUT oFF VALVE FOR o-IL BURNERS v 3 sheets-sheet 1 FiledMay '1, 1924 @am BY ATTORNEY 7 June 5, 192s. 1,672,575

R. D. MGINTOSH SHUT OFF VALVE FOR OIL BURNERS Filed May 1, 1924 5sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR R. D. MCINTOSH SHUT oFF VALVE FOR OIL BURNERSJune 5, 192s. l 1,672,575

Filed May 1, 19,24 3 sheets-sheet 3 1'? ATTORNEY% Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. MCINTOSH, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIALBRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

SHUT-OFF VALVE .'FOR OIL BURNERS.

My invention is concerned primarily with safety devices for oil burners,to prevent pos sible flooding if the flame is extinguished, accidentallyor otherwise, without shutting oft' the fuel supply, and is designedprimarily lo produce ay device of the class described that will besimple in construction, and which will be safe under all conditions ofoperation.

In prior art devices of this kind, with which l am familiar, the desiredtripping of the valve has been secured by tripping a catch, when aswinging bucket receiving the overflow has been filled to the desiredextent, thus making the act-ion depend upon the weight of the oil actingeffectively through the downward movement of the bucket, which might beunintentionally interfered with by something accidentally getting orbeing placed beneath the bucket so as to prevent its downwardmoven'ient.

To overcome this objection, I employ a stationary, covered bucket orcontainer and place in it a Hout, the rising of which as the bucketfills causes' the catch to be tripped, and it will he obvious thatnothing is likely to interfere with the rise of the float.

Another feature of my invention resides in the use of a swinging weightheld by a catch to actuate the valve. in place of the spring heretoforecustomarily employed.

Another feature resides in the use of a diaphragm through which thevalve is actuated to obviate the necessity of packing about a movingpart.

In combination with a. valve mechanism that is operated automatically toclose it, as above explained, I employ an adjusting means which may beused to regulate the normal rate at which the oil is supplied to theburner, or which may be connected to thermostatic mechanismautomatically to regulate the amount of oil burned in a given period,and thereby the degree of heat.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto three sheets of drawings, inwhich the same reference characters are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures, of which,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with a portion broken away and in centralvertical section, and with the position of the oil rece tacle when it isbeing emptied shownin otted lines;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with a portion of the swinging cover for thereceptacle broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The valve casing, which is the central feature of the apparatus, ispreferably made up of a pair of castings 10 and 11, which have theannular co-operating faces between which is clamped the periphery of apreferably metallic, circular diaphragm 12, having lthe packing annulus13 between it and the annular surface of the castin 10. The parts thusassembled are secure by a plurality of screws 14 passed through thecircular flange of the casting 12, the periphery of the diaphragm, thepacking ring 13, and threaded into the casting 10. The casting 10 isprovided with the threaded opening l5, into which is screwed the oilsupply pipe 16, and the opening 15 is connected by the passages 17 and18 drilled in the casting, with the valve seat 19, with whichco-operates the conical end 2O of the valve body 21, which has the head22 pressed against the center of the diaphragm 12 by thehelically-coiled, expanding spring 23 confined between the head 22 andthe shoulders 24 placed in the opening 25 formed in the cast-ing 10outside of the valve seat 19. When the valve is open, the oil flowsthrough the passages 17 and 18 into the opening 25, from which it flowsthrough the diagonal passage 26 into the outlet opening 27, which isthreaded to receive the oil delivery pipe 28. To limit the rate at whichthe oil may be consumed, I preferabl place lin the bottom of the opening27, so t at it is held in place by the pipe 28, a disk 29 having asmall, centrally-located aperture therein, the size of which determinesthe maximum rate of feed.

The casting 10 is preferably provided with a vertical opening 30therethrough, through which I pass the supporting rod or pipe 31preferably supported by the large base 32, so that the apparatus doesnot depend for its support upon the pipes 16 and 28, and thus tend tobend them. The casting 10 is provided on its upper face with an elbow33, the larger end of which is interiorly threaded to receive thecustomary overow liti pipe 34 extending from the burner. The other endof the elbow has threaded therein the short pipe 35, which preferablyterminates in another downwardly-extending elbow 36, which registerswith an opening 37 formed in the top 38 of the oil rece table 39, whichis preferably in the form o a cylindrical, sheet-metal cup. rlhe opening37 is preferably surrounded above the top by the small, annular,upstanding flan e 40, and on its under side by the downward y-eXtending,annular flange 41, so that any overflow oil passing through the elbow 33will necessarily reach the receptable or bucket 39, which is pivoted tothe arm 42, which is either secured to or formed rigidly with thecasting 10. The cover 38 is provided with the downwardly-extending,annular flange 43 by which it is secured to the body portion 39, andalso with the pair of upwardly-extending anges 44 and 4,5, best seen inFig. 2. 'llhe bucket is pivoted on the arm 42 by the screw 46 passedthroungh an aperture in the Harige 44 and threaded into the end of thearm 42, and when the bucket is to be emptied, it is turned about thispivot to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where the oil canflow out through the circular aperture 47 formed in the top of thecover. The Harige 45 serves to protect the trip lever 48, which isfulcrumed on the casting 11 by the pin 49 rejecting from the casting 10,and upon whlch is threaded the retaining nut 50. Further to protect thistrip lever and prevent the possibility of anything interfering with itsoperation, 1 provide the sw1ng1n cover 51, which is provided at itsouter en with the ears 52 (zo-operating with the ears 53 formed on thecover casting at the end of the flanges 44 and 45. A rivet 54 passingthrough all four of the ears 52 and 53 forms the pivot, and the swingingcover 51is held in place by the coiled spring 55 surrounding the rivetand having its ends engaging the cover 51 and the cover casting,respectively.

When the receptacle 39 is tilted up as shown in Fig. 1. the free end ofthe cover, which has the iange 56 thereon, rides up on the curve formedby the annular iianged portion 57 of the casting 12.

The operation of the trip lever 48 is effected by a Hoat 58, whichpreferably takes the form of an inverted sheet-metal bell, and

is connected by the link 59 with the power arm of the trip lever 48, theother end of which is provided with the nose 60 which co-operates withthe shoulder 61 formed in the hub portion 62 of a weight lever 63, thehub 62 of which is secured by a set screw 64 on the sleeve 65, which hasits outer end 66 threaded by quick-acting threads into the circularrecess 67 formed in the casting 11. The weight 68 secured on the arm 63is prevented from being accidentally moved so as prematurely to releasethe catch lever 48 by the segmental cover flange 69 having thev fiangedportion 70 overhanging the weight 68. The other end of the sleeveengages the center of the diaphragm '12, and is so adjusted relative tothe valve member 21 that when the weight 68 is elevated, as shown infull lines in Fig. 1, the valve 21 may be in its wide open position, butthat before the weight 68 has reached the limit of its possible downwardmovement, as indicated in dotted' lines in Fig. 1, the diaphragm 12, andconsequently the valve 21, will have been forced inward so far as toengage with the seat 19 and completely close the' valve, thus preventingany further delivery of the oil to the burner. When this occurs, ofcourse the fire goes out, and when it is to be rekindled, the receptacle39 is em tied, as previously explained, when the oat 58 falls, so thatwhen the weight 68 is raised again to its full-line position and thenose 60 catches on the shoulder 61, the parts are adjusted again fornormal operation.

lin connection with this automatic shut-od valve, 1 preferably provide aregulating means consisting of a preferably graduated disk or handle 71secured upon the end of the shaft 72, which is threaded by a thread ofordinary pitch through the aperture 73 in the casting 11. rlhe inner endof the shaft need not be threaded, and passes freely through the sleeve65, so that its end can engage the center of the diaphragm 12, thisengagement preferably being made by the head 74 of a pin 75 placed inthe end of the shaft 72, so that the turning of said shaft 72 will notwear the center of the diaphragm 12. rlfhis disk 71 preferably has itsextreme pe riphery roughened, as seen at 76, and it is also providedwith agraduated ring 7 7 which ring is marked with graduations andnumerals so that the extent to which the valve is normally opened may beregulated by moving said ring relative to a pointer 78, extending from ahub 79 which is secured by the set screw 80 upon the reduced end portion81 of the casting 11. After the disk 71 is turned to completely closethe valve, the pointer 78 is set so that it coincides with the zerograduation on the valve. I preferably provide also a maximum feed stop,which consists of a lug 82 extending from the hub 83, which can besecured in any desired position on the portion 81 by the set screw 84,and to cooperate with this lug 82, I provide the stop 85, which may forma part of the graduated ring 77, it being understood that when the diskhas been turned to the limit of its open movement, said lug 85 willcontact with the lug 82.

If it is desired to employ a thermostat control in connection with thisregulating valve, I provide a lever 86, which has a pair ofdiametrically-located, hooked ears 87, one of which is provided with aset screw 88, so that that I do not desire to be limited in theinterpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated bythe state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure .by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports for an oilsupply, of a valve seat therein, a valve movable to and from the seat,automatic means tending to move the valve to its seat when said meansare tripped, a receptacle for unconsumed oil stationary in operation butpivoted at its upper edge so that it can be swung about said edgethrough an angle of ninety degrees to empty its contents, and trippingmechanism actuated automatically by the deposit of oil in thereceptacle.

2. In a device of the. class described` the combination with a valvecasing having inlet and outlet ports for an oil supply, of a valve seattherein, a horizontally movable valve co-operating with the seat, aspring tending to hold it unseated. a horizontally movable member havingquick thread mountings in the casing adapted to move thel valve, meansto rotate the horizontally movable member, a diaphragm in the casingbetween the end of the valve and the adjacent end of the horizontallymovable member, a weighted arm connected to the horizontally movablemember, a catch lever for said arm, a receptacle'for unconsurned oil,and means for opof oil has entered the receptacle.

3. In a device of the class described. the combination with a valvecasing having inlet and outlet ports for an oil supply, of a. valve seattherein, a horizontally movable valve co-operating with the seat, adiaphragm in the valve casing, a spring tending to hold the valve awayfrom the seat and with its other end against the diaphragm, an adjustingscrew threaded into the casing on the other side ol the. diaphragm andhaving its end engaging the center thereof, a sleeve surrounding theadjusting screw having its outer end threaded into the casing and itsinner end engaging the diaphragm, and means for automatically rotatingthe. sleeve.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination with avalve casing having inlet and outlet ports for an oilsupply, of a valve seat therein, a horizontally movable valveco-operating` with the seat, a diaphragm in the valve casino', a springtendiner to hold the valve away rom the. seat and with its other endagainst the diaphragm, an adjusting screw threaded into the casing onthe other side of the diaphragm and having its end engaging the centerthereof, a sleeve surrounding the adjusting screw having its outer endthreaded into the casing and its inner end engaging the diaphragm, meansfor automatically rotating the sleeve, and a graduated disk on the,outer end of the adjusting screw.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a valvecasing having inlet and outlet ports for an oil supply, of a valve seattherein, a horizontally movable valve (to-operating with the scat, adiaphragm in the valve casing, a. spring tending to hold the valve awayfrom the seat and with its other end against the diaphragm, an adjustingscrew threaded into the casing on the other side of the diaphragm andhaving its end engaging the center thereof, a sleeve surrounding theadjusting screw having its outer end threaded into the casing and itsinner end engaging the diaphragm. means for automatically rotating thesleeve, a graduated disk on the outer end of the arljust-ing screw, andan arm for a thermostat connection adapted to be secured to the disk'.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a valvecasing having inlet and outlet ports for an oil supply, ot a valve seattherein, a valve movable to and from the seat. automatic means tendingto move the valve to its seat when said means are tripped, a receptaclefor unconsumed oill pivoted at its upper end so that it can be swungthrough an angle of ninety degrees to empty its contents, trippingmechanism actuated automatically by the deposit of oil in thereceptacle` the top of the receptacle erating the catch lever after acertain amount having a slot therein to permit its being swung as statedwithout interfering with the tripping mechanism, and a cover for saidslot adapted to be raised by the tripping mechanism as the receptacle.is tilted and to close automatically when it swings back.

7. In a device of the class described. the combination with a valvecasing having a chamber therein through which the oil passes, inlet andoutlet. ports for said chamber, a valve seat between said ports, a valveco-operating with said seat, a spring cooperating with said valve tohold it open in normal operation` a diaphragm having its central portionco-operating with said valve and serving to form one side of the chamberin which the oil is confined, a threaded member having one end bearingon the central portion of the other side of the diaphragm,

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i a support in which said member is threaded so that it can rotaietherein, a Weighted arm attached to said threaded member` and tripmechanism to release said weightedal'm.

8. lln a device of the class described, the combination with a valvecasing having a chamber. therein through which the oil passes, inlet.and outlet ports for said chamber. a valveseat between said ports, avalve co-operating with said seat. a spring co-op- @rating `with saidvalve tohold 1t open 1n normal operation, a diaphragm havmg its centralportion co-operating with said valve and serving to form one side ot thechamber in which the oil is confined, a threaded member having one endbearing on the central por( ion of the other side of the diaphragm, asupport in which said member is threaded so that it can rotate therein,aweighted arm attached to said threaded member, a valve regulating memberthreaded inside of the threaded member and engaging the diaphragm, andtrip mechanism to release said weighted arm.

9. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a valvecasing having a chamber therein through which the oil passes, inlet andoutlet ports for said chamber, a valve seat between said ports, a valveco-operating with said seat, a spring cooperating with said valveto holdit open in normal operation, a diaphragm having its central portionm2o-operating with said valve and serving to form one side of thechamber in which the oil is confined, a threaded member having one endbearing on the central portion oit' the other side ot the diaphragm, asupport in which said member is threaded so that it can rotate therein,a weighted arm attached to'saidthreaded member, a valve regulatingmember having a loose abutment in the end thereof threaded inside of thethreaded member and engaging the .diaphragm, land trip mechanism torelease said weighted arm. v

1G. In a device of the class described,the combination with a valvecasing having a chamber therein through which the oil passes,'inlet andoutlet ports for said chamber, a valve seat between said ports, a valveco-operating with said seat, a spring cooperating With said valve tohold it open in normal operation, a diaphragm having its phragm,adjustable stops (1o-operating with the valve regulating member to limitthe amount of its movement, and trip mechanism to release said weightedarm.

l1. ln a device ol the class described, the combination with a valvecasing having inlet a -valve seat therein between said ports, ahorizontally movable valve co-operating with said seat, a spring holdingthe valve open,

a horizontally movable and rotatable member threaded into the valvecasing by quickacting threads, a iiexible member laterally movable atits center and separating said valve and said member so that the lattertransmits its horizontal movement only to the valve, a swinging weightedlever attached to the member having a catch thereon, a trip leverco-operating therewith, a receptable :tor unconsumed oil, and means foroperating the catch lever after a certain amount of oil has entered thereceptacle.

12. lin a device of the class described, the `combination with a valvecasing having inlet and outlet 'ports for an oil supply, of a valve seattherein between said ports, a horizontally movable valve co-operatingwith the seat, a spring co-operating with the valve and tending to holdit unseated, a horizontally movable member having quick-thread mountingsin the casing adapted to move the valve, a weighted lever attached tothe horizontally movable member to rotate it by the gravity of theweight, a' catch for the lever, and a diaphragm in the casing confiningthe oil therein and having its central portion located between the endsof the valve and of the horizontally movable member so that horizontalmovement only of said member is transmitted to the valve.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set' my hand this 26th day of April,1924.

v ROBERT D. MCINTOSH.

and outlet ports for an oil supply, of.

